The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-01-23

doubt about his Fastening forward and assuming
the commands Not 3d. with Logan. He did
not mistrust himself, but he felt aud said that
General Thomas-the careful, courageous
soldier that he was-being on the
ground, knew better than any living man the
proper hour to strike the enemy. General
Logan delayed by the way. He stopped two
days at the Burnet House. in Cincinnati and
then reluctantly went on to Louisville Here he
stopped again, and on the following morning the
whole country was thrilled with the news of the
glorious victory over Hood, won by that grand
old man, Gen. George n. Thomas. Looking
back at these incidents in the career of General
Logan, 1T is not hard to see that had he fastened
forward; assumed control of General Thomas's
army, at Nashville, what great and irrepara-
Bile injury would have been done the latter2 All
honor to General Logan for the manly course he
pursued in his treatment of the hero of Chicka-
manga
General Logan was not wanting ia physical
courage, even off the battle field. After the fail
of Vicksburg, 20 per cent of the army that had
been operating against that stronghold was
granted leaves of absence and furloughs for
twenty and thirty days. These leaves expired
at about the time of the election In Ohio. in
which Vallandigham was the Democratic candi-
date for Governor, and l remember that there
was large gathering of officers assembled at
Cairo H., on their way back to their respective
commands waiting there for boats to take them
down the river During the war Cairo was in
tested with refugees, rebel spies and copper
heads to an extent that was surprising Alarge
number OF these returning officers were
atopping at the st. Charles Hotel, and among
them was General Logan. Being resident
of southern Illinois, he was we'll known
to the citizens Of Cairo In the Office of the
hotel, the next day after the election, a number
of these officers were perusing the election news
from Ohio and exulting over the defeat of Val
landigham. big, broad-shouldered, vilanous-
looking fellow, whom, it was plain to be seen,
was backed by the baser element Of the crowd.
W lad mn, to or6 fhn 1nAkz
Joicing over the result Of the election, and with
the evident intention of insulting him, dropped
most infamous remark concerning General
Logan being ''turn-coat"-meanngt that by en-
tering the army he had abandoned the Demo
cratic party. A gentleman under any and all
circumstances, General Logan did not reply, al
though Icould plainly see the hot blood in his veins
tlnge the color of his swarthy cheek The insult
was reiterated, and even more alphabetically than
before. made personal to the General Both
parties were standing near the counter of the
office on which stood q large pitcher moro than
half filled with water. Selling it by the handle
and as quick AS thought, General Logan dealt
the ruffian blow that laid him senseless unon
the floor, besides drenching the scoundrel with
the water it contained The pals of the ruffiau
Immediately made a rush for Logan but they
were confronted with the open muzzles of the
revolvers Of every officer standing near, and evil
GENTLY they discovered just then that discretion
was the better part of valor" To this day have
always thought that this assault was a premed-
itated attempt the life Of General
Logan AT this distance from the war, it is
nard to conceive of the extremely bitter hatred
that large portion of the membership of the
Democratic party bore General Logan for what
they claimed was his desertion of the party
with which he had always acted Afterwards I
learned that Logan knew the man, who was a
noted river bully, and he, too, thought it was an
attempt to force quarrel upon him. and, if cir
cumstances permitted, to murder him. Logans
pluck and agility in knocking the ring leader
'out OF time" and the immediate response on
the part OF the officers present with their revolv
vented this; but I firmly believe to this day
from all the circumstances attending the cpl
sode, that it was deliberate plan to provoke a
quarrel with him, and then, in the melee which
would naturally follow. to put an end to his life.
was at his tent at Raleigh, n. c., when the
news OF the assassination of Lincoln was re-
celved. With tears streaming down his cheeks
anc his compact form quivering with emotion
he handed me the dispatch. The news as mat
ter OF course created a profound sensation and
the grief of both officers and men was very deem
Many, very many, were so profoundly affected
as to break forth in tears; but among them all I
saw none who seemed to be more alive 10 the
great calamity that had happened the country
than John A. Logan; and at that very moment
be predicted that Vice-president johnson would
De failure in attempting to fill the place Of Lin
coin; though he probably failed in different
manner from what the General expected
Negotiations for the surrender Of Johnston's
army were going on at the time the news of
Lincoln's assassination was received, and dis
tinctlY remember discussion-held at corps
headquarters after the terms of surrender had
been adopted and agreed upon by both sides
between General Logan and number of the
superior officers of his command. The question
OF placing the right of suffrage in the hands of
the negro had already been preached by some of
ton they were discussing at the time
referred to. II I remember correctly,
every one Of his subordinates was OPP
posed to such measure and expressed
their hostility to the proposition in the most
emphatic manner. General Logan replied by
saying that his prejudices against the negro
were probably as great as those of anyone pres
ent; but that We must consider that the war was
over that slavery had gone down with the col
lapse of the rebellion. These colored people
would now be free. Ignorant, they truly we're;
but he saw no way ont of the difficulty in which
they would be placed but to give them the right
Of suffrage as means of self preservation
Left to themselves, the old shareholders would
lose no time ia passing laws that in effect
would re-establish slavery, and while he
looked upon giving them the right to
vote with DO little repugnance, he saw no better
way to settle the enigma. For man who was
born and bred Democrat, I feel confident
the reader will agree with me in saving that
General Logan had assumed advanced ground
from the generality of the party for il was some
time before the right to vote was conceded to the
colored man, and it will be remembered that the
first Legislature to assemble after the war in the
State of Mississippl-just as General Logan said
they would do-passed laws concerning the negro
that were far more rigid and restrictive of their
rights than existed in the days of slavery.
Miss "Ninny' Vanzandt,
Chicago Journal
About year ago Miss Vanazndt and her
mother visited Unknown dramatic school
presided over by kind-hearted and talented
genius. Daugnter Is very, very talented, said
Vanazndt mere. II should like to have her
study here if she can do SO il private, as 1 am